The long road to the NFL: Joe Milton's journey of persistence
In short: Success in professional sports is rarely a straight line. For Joe Milton, it took a multi-year odyssey across three different universities and two different NFL teams before finding a moment in the spotlight. His career serves as a masterclass in navigating the volatile hierarchy of elite athletics.
Joe Milton's path to the NFL was defined by a series of transitions and shifting roles. After starting at the University of Michigan, where he spent two years as a backup, Milton transferred to the University of Tennessee. His time there was marked by significant volatility; he was named the starter in 2021 but was sidelined by injury and later spent much of 2022 in a relief role until a season-ending injury to teammate Hendon Hooker forced him into the starting position. Milton's collegiate career reached a peak in 2023 when he recorded the longest rushing play by a quarterback in Tennessee program history—an 81-yard touchdown against UTSA. However, the season also saw heavy losses against top-ranked opponents like Georgia and Missouri.
Despite these fluctuations, he finished his final season with an 8–4 record, opting out of the bowl game before entering the professional ranks. His professional entry was equally complex. Selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, Milton spent his rookie year as the third-string quarterback. He finally made his debut on January 5, 2025, in a season finale against the Buffalo Bills, where he accounted for two touchdowns. His journey continued with a trade to the Dallas Cowboys in April 2025, where he served as a backup before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad in August 2026.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Joe Milton
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/wealth-joe-milton.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Businesspeople · More in Wealth & Business · Latest · A–Z · All topics
